A deal struck 10 years ago to bring the men’s Final Four to Indianapolis every five years has become a much-beefier cash cow for the city than any of the pact’s architects could have imagined.
The economic impact data from 2013 show travel and tourism supports more than 187,000 jobs in Indiana and contributes $10.3 billion in revenue.
The National Rifle Association’s annual convention was Indianapolis’ biggest convention last year, and local hospitality leaders expect it to be even bigger in future years.
Indiana Sports Corp. officials who attended the first College Football Playoff Championship Game said they’d love to host the game at Lucas Oil Stadium under the right conditions.
For the past 15 years, downtown hotel developers have moved masterfully in lock-step with demand. But with Indianapolis’ convention business showing signs of slowing in 2015 and 2016—right about the time three new hotels are scheduled to open—that streak might crash to a halt.
Connections, the high-profile digital-marketing convention hosted in Indianapolis by ExactTarget each year since the event's founding in 2005, is moving to New York City next year, city tourism officials disclosed Thursday.
The Capital Improvement Board is headed for lean years, but it’s not for a lack of resources. The entity that oversees downtown convention and sports venues faces payment of two big debts.
Indianapolis is expecting 15,000 athletes and 30,000 spectators for the 2016 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships.
Revenue from year-long passes was up about 8 percent this year through the end of May compared to the same time last year, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
The Indianapolis Zoo last month dumped its old model of set ticket prices and installed a variable model—a first for the industry and one with mostly higher prices—to correspond with the opening of its orangutan exhibit.
The amphitheater sold almost 570,000 tickets to 34 shows last year, the most in recent history, as the live-entertainment industry rebounded from a recession-related slump. Ticket sales at Klipsch were up 60 percent from 2011, when it scheduled about 10 fewer events.
The $26 million International Orangutan Center at the Indianapolis Zoo is scheduled to open to the public Saturday. Zoo officials expect a tremendous attendance boost from the exhibit.
New Orleans has emerged as the front runner to host the Super Bowl in 2018 due to its tricentennial celebration and the fact that this could be 87-year-old Saints owner Tom Benson’s last crack at hosting the big game.
The city on Wednesday turned in a 900-page bid to host the 2018 Super Bowl that mentions the possibility of two new downtown hotels. Meanwhile, a Colts official said owner Jim Irsay plans to help lobby for the city’s bid at the May 19-21 NFL owners meeting.
The Fairgrounds Coliseum, which reopens Thursday after a $63 million renovation, is likely to receive a new name soon, an Indiana State Fair Commission spokesman said.
With less than two weeks to go, the 38th 500 Festival Mini Marathon might not have a full field for the first time in 12 years.
A record-breaking 32,000 firefighters are expected at the annual event, which started Monday and runs through Saturday at the Indiana Convention Center.
The $178,000 study will answer key questions about how the city can better connect its highlights, attract and please business and leisure travelers, and hook up with corporate partners.
City tourism officials worked for years to bring second-largest convention ever to Indianapolis.
Businesses are scrambling to decide how to cater to the massive confab.
